Opinion time is the voice of retailers & retail industry figures, find out what they have to say here on Retail Times
The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has joined forces with the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) to urge MPs to pass two amendments to the Government’s Localism Bill to give greater power to local communities. MPs will discuss amendments
Emmanuel Hembert, principal at the retail practice of global strategy consultancy AT Kearney, urges caution despite the jump in April retail sales. “As with last month’s figures, the jump in retail sales figures of 5.2% in April should be read
Figures from the Insolvency Service on the administration of wholesale and retail companies in Q1 2011 show a 70% increase from the 58 company failures in Q4 2010 to 99 in Q1 2011 and an 11% increase on the 89
UK retail sales experienced the biggest fall for at least 16 years, according to the latest BRC-KPMG Retail Sales Monitor. Total values in March 2011 were down 1.9% from March 2010. With the top line under pressure, retailers should turn
Shopper transaction company Global Blue claims the combination of the Royal Wedding, Olympics and Diamond Jubilee will boost tourism spend in the UK and has dubbed it the WODJ (Wedding, Olympics and Diamond Jubilee) effect. Nigel Dasler, vice president UK
Emmanuel Hembert, principal at global strategy consultancy AT Kearney, said he was surprised at the pick-up in retail sales in March 2011 but urged caution. “Optimism over UK retail must be moderated,” he said. “We believe the uplift is linked to
Food and drink companies must recognise the role marketing plays in bottom line growth and safeguarding production, according to insight at The Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) Food, Drink and Agriculture Group conference on 7 April 2011. To keep relevant
In a regular new column, Verdict retail consultant Simon Chinn, assesses the latest grocery store formats and concepts around the globe On a recent trip to Malaysia, I had the chance to witness first hand the rise of Tesco in
Barry Knight, head of retail at Grant Thornton UK LLP, claims the Chancellor’s Budget announcement to defer the duty increase on fuel is welcome news for the retail sector. “The scrapping of the fuel duty increase will have been top
Matthew Hopkinson, director at retail location data and insight provider, The Local Data Company, highlights the key topics debated at the Retail Week Conference, 16-17 March 2011 Stand still and you get run over. This is certainly true in the
Convenience stores and independent forecourts should take advantage of the pending tobacco display ban in England and the window of opportunity it provides them over multiple rivals, according to Jon Dunman, vice president of petrol and convenience at Torex. “While
Insurance company Aviva is warning retailers to be aware of the continuing risk of slips on floors made wet by rainwater or spillages, as part of its ongoing Simply Safety campaign. The advice is targeted at the retail and leisure
Technology is bringing about some of the biggest changes to a customer’s shopping experience. Ivano Ortis, international director of trend forecasting agency Retail Insights, explains what this means for retailers Once upon a time, the customer experience depended largely upon
Retailers will have welcomed an increase in sales in January but the indications for February look bleak, according to a leading retail advisor. Commenting on the latest figures released today by the Office for National Statistics, which show 1.9% growth
Employers can help reduce staff absenteeism brought on by back pain if they encourage employees to improve their posture, claims the workplace equipment provider Slingsby. Figures from the NHS show back pain remains the most common cause of workplace absence
Employers can help reduce staff absenteeism brought on by back pain if they encourage employees to improve their posture, claims the workplace equipment provider Slingsby. Figures from the NHS show back pain remains the most common cause of workplace absence
Fewer retail and wholesale businesses went into administration in the last quarter of 2010, compared to the same period in 2009, figures from the Office for National Statistics reveal. But a leading financial adviser has warned this is the lull
Jon Dunman, vice president of petrol and convenience at Torex, the technology solutions provider, is advising convenience stores maintain stock levels of milk, despite rising prices. “Independent and convenience retailers are already struggling to keep up with the large supermarkets
Jon Dunman (JD), vice president of petrol and convenience at Torex, the global technology solutions provider, talks to Retail Times editor Fiona Briggs (FB) about the retail trends, which can drive sales FB: How important is technology to retail businesses?
The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) claims the Government’s impending ban on below cost selling of alcohol will barely affect the supermarket promotions that have attracted criticism. Under plans to be unveiled by the government later today (18 January 2011),
Local shops are calling for a new approach to tackling shop theft after Ministers revealed 78% of those convicted for shoplifting reoffend within a year. Responding to questions from MPs on Tuesday, Minister for Justice, Crispin Blunt, agreed the figures
Barry Knight, head of retail at Grant Thornton UK LLP, talks to Retail Times editor, Fiona Briggs, about the likely impact of the VAT hike on retail sales Fiona Briggs (FB): Who will the VAT increase actually hit? From experience,
Clothing and footwear has sold well in November with cold weather driving boots, woollens and coat sales, according to Barry Knight, head of retail at Grant Thornton UK LLP. Commenting on the latest monthly retail sales figures from the Office
Chris Sheryn, senior consultant at SA Partners, argues retail leaders should focus on strategic, ‘blue sky’ rather than ‘bike shed’ thinking, and understanding the consumer in the economic downturn This winter, when the talk in the Dog and Gun moves
Leading global insurer RSA is warning UK retailers to check the limits on their business insurance cover as they stock up for the Christmas trading period. The warning comes as stores get set to capitailse on the busiest time of
